Curious about programming? Want to get started with a language that's great for beginners, but is also used all over industry and research to visualize data, program robots, run servers, and make art? Then you're ready to get started with Python!

Python powers some of the most popular websites and apps we all know and love, like Pinterest, Instagram, and Rdio, to name a few. It's used by tech companies all over the world, as well as universities and open-source projects.

We'll explore the basic components of programming with Python: using the Python interactive shell, functions/loops/conditionals, data structures and object oriented and functional programming. Don't worry if all those terms sound like a foreign language. We'll mix lecture and practice, and help guide you through the coursework.

Please bring a laptop that is ready to go for Python, if you'd like to download and set up the Anaconda distribution of Python 3.6 from https://www.continuum.io/downloads. If you have any questions about setting up your own laptop to run Python ahead of time, feel free to email [masked] for help. (We won't spend class time setting up personal computers.)

About your teacher:

Ryan is a Python programmer and general Open Source developer, and spends his time at Red Hat working on Ansible and AWS tooling.

"House keeping"

Students are required to bring their own laptop for classes. If you do not have a laptop, please contact us at [masked] before registering, and we’ll see if we can work something out.

We have several scholarships available for our students who are not able to cover full cost of classes. If you are interested in a scholarship, please fill out our scholarship application here ( https://goo.gl/forms/oYx2sTPelRLf5uyC3 ). You may also be interested in speaking to your employer to see if they are willing to reimburse you for the class. To discuss and for assistance with this, please reach out to the leadership team at [masked] .

Please be advised that photographs may be taken at the event for internal use - e.g. internal GDI presentations. By attending this event, you consent that your photograph may be taken.

If you have accessibility requirements/requests for accommodations, please provide us with at least 2 weeks notice so we have adequate time to meet your needs. Please send requests for accommodations to our leadership team at [masked] .

If you would like a printed course completion certificate, please email the leadership team at [masked] to let us know. In order to receive a printed course completion certificate you must attend at least 70% of the classes (in this case, three of the four classes). You will be able to pick up your requested certificate at the end of the second class.

If you are interested in using our GDI Buffalo Slack channel to keep in touch with your fellow classmates, other GDI Buffalo members, teachers, and TAs please email the GDI Buffalo leadership team at [masked]. Or complete this survey ( https://goo.gl/forms/FH8yb1JJrv1OFZcH3 )